Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-02-25
SING SING.
A Pen View Of the Celebrated
Prison on the Hudson.
Warden Brush Chats About Important
Prisoners in His Charge.

Warden Brush Chats About Important
Prisoners in His Charge.
A reporter for the Mail and Express
who went up to Sing Sing had chat
with Warden Brush about some OF his
important charges. lie says ex-alderman
Joohno is one of the best men he ever
had for prisoner From the very be
ginning Of his sentence he has obeyed
every rule to the letter.
I'm fact said the warden, Che seem
cd anxious to learn exactly what he
ought to do, and to-day he is exactly
like clock-work His health has i'm
proved with the regular living. and
his appetite is something pleasant
to behold. He Furnishes prison fare as
if he had been accustomed to it all his
life. That is the only way for a man to
get along in prison. lie must look at the
situation from a standpoint Of philoso-
pher and say to himself: ~ am here and
might as well make the best of a bad
ba:gain," Jaehne seems to be that sort
of a man. understand that he was an
inveterate smoker of good cigars before
coming here Still he enjoys a pipe
which we allow him in the evening with
as much gusto as if it were a R3ina.
But Ferdinand Ward, he is the most
persistent worker for trifing privileges
which we cannot allow him that you
ever heard Of. If he wants a cigar he
will try to get it, although it is against
the rules, and any keeper showing favor
in this respect would be dealt with sum-
marly. Ward VIII resort to all little
schemes in order to accomplish an OBJ
ject. lie will not accept defeat. Oi
course he is treated the same as any
oti or convict, but he is not will
ing to he as Jaehne is.
Prisoners are allowed to read books and
magazines, and we have quite a large
library here, but newspapers are not al
lowed. Some of the prisoners will get
them, however A wife will send hel
husband book Well, inside the cover,
perhaps, she has concealed a newspaper,
or portion of one. and when she hands il
to him at her visit, which we allow every
two months, he is ready to understand
the slightest sign from her, although 6
keeper stands right by in the room will
| them.
"You would be surprised at the mem
ory of an intelligent prisoner When not
:, nothiaa Ta.s -. ;i:a7S w ssE n
ever on the alert for news from the out
side world. If convict were to pas
through this hall now for instance, anC
hear you let drop word, he would b.
able to guess at the whole conversation
and tell his friends about it. 1t is in
stinct. We rarely have trouble witt
men of intelligence. The,
readily unders tand the rules and know
that the best way to get alone is to fol
low them. 1t is the tough that usual,
tries to kick over the traces, but h
never succeeds in this institution. Bud
densiek, the man who was sent here 70
building mud houses, was an exception
He was SO sure that he would get out il
little while that he tried to carry o.
his business. This we could not allow
lie was always wanting to see some Q
his friends about his building enter
prises, and have no doubt that if h
had been allowed to give orders to Ii
foreman every morning as he desired hi
business would have continued to pros
per. lie woull not put it in any on
elsc's hands until the Court of Appeals
decided that the verdict must stand
Now he is resigned"
While the warden was talking thre
prisoners came through the doorwar
from below. They were no longe
prisoners when they entered the war
den's office. Their terms had just cx
pired. They were dressed in clothin,
cut by Fifth avenue tailor, and felt a
proud as could be. They bowed to tn
Warden and walked out into the world
free men.
at looks queer for prisoner withou
money or friends to leave here with
hundred dollar suit on his back, but oc
casionaIly they do. When a man come
here his clothing is confscated. 1t j
renovated and, if need be, repaired, anc
hung up for future inspection. The frs
prisoner discharged is entitled to picl
out any suit Of clothes he takes fame,
TO. If there is nothing 10 fit him "
furnish him with new suit. There j
a man walking abou. New York to-da,
wearing Jaehne's spring overcoat whicI
be had on when he came here, and somt
other ex-convict selected his trousers
Another took the Prince Albert coat anc
some one else chose the vest of the ex
alderman. They were all of the fines
quality. Money and jewelry are Away
returned to prisoner at the expiration
of his term. 1t frequently happens tha
when a man is sent here the second tim
he will bring along all his money an,
jewelry, knowing that the State is re
sponsble for them. Sing Sing is no
such bad place"
~ - -. L, ~.